From the Songs of Shabbos

Shabbos – the Sacred Seventh Day – is especially
suited for song, as it is written: “A psalm, a
song for the Shabbos day” (Psalm 92:1).

Dear Friends,

The biblical term “chassidim” refers to those
who serve the Creator and all creation with love
and devotion. The “Sefer Chassidim” – attributed
to Rabbi Yehudah HaChasid - is a classical work
on Jewish ethics and conduct which was written
in the thirteenth century, and its teachings
help us to become true chassidim. This work
cites the tradition that when the Creator
“blessed the Seventh Day” (Genesis 2:3), He
blessed it with joyous song (Section 1147).
There is therefore a custom to sing many songs
on Shabbos, especially during the meals, and
each of these songs reveals another aspect of
the Jewish vision. Through these songs, we
become chassidim who express our love and
yearning for our Beloved, Who will lead us to
redemption and shalom in the age that is called,
“the day that will be entirely Shabbos and
tranquility for life everlasting” (Mishnah Tamid
7:4). Each Shabbos gives us a “taste” of this
future age. In this spirit, I will cite the
following excerpts from some of the poetic songs
which are sung at the Shabbos table on Friday
night.

1. “Let us now invite Her - the Shechinah - with
a newly-laid table, and with a well-lit menorah
that casts light on all heads.” (Askinu
Seudasa/Azamer Bishvachim by the Arizal, Rabbi
Yitzchak Luria)

A source for the above verse can be found in the
Midrash which teaches that when we prepare for
the arrival of Shabbos in the manner described
above, the Shechinah says, “This is My
dwelling!” (Yalkut Reuveni on Exodus 31:16)

2. “Tranquility, joy, and light for the Jews, on
this day of Shabbos, day of delights.

…They will merit much good, those who take
pleasure in it – with the redeemer’s coming, for
the life of the World to Come.” (Menucha
V’Simcha)

3. “How beloved is your tranquility; You are the
Shabbos Queen, therefore we run toward You,
‘Come O Royal Bride.’

…A semblance of the World to Come is the Shabbos
day of tranquility. All who delight in it will
merit much joy; from the birth pangs of the
Messiah they will be rescued to relief. May our
redemption flourish, so that grief and sighs may
flee.” (Mah Yedidus)

4. “This day for Israel is light and joy –
Shabbos of tranquility. Heart’s beloved of the
shattered nation, for suffering people an
additional soul; for a troubled soul it removes
moaning – Shabbos of tranquility.

…Renew our Sanctuary, remember the ruined city;
Your goodness, our Savior, grant to the saddened
one who spends the Shabbos in song and praise –
Shabbos of tranquility.” (Yom Zeh L’Yisrael
by the Arizal)

5. “My soul thirsts for God, for the God of
life; my heart and flesh will sing joyously to
the Living God.

…For everything I shall glorify You, every mouth
shall acknowledge Your Oneness; for You open
Your hand and satisfy all the living.

Remember the love of the ancients – thereby
resuscitate the slumbering dead. And bring near
the days when Jesse’s heir shall live.” (Tzamah
Nafshi by Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra)

6. “O Creator, Master of this world and all
worlds, You are the King, who reigns over kings.

Praises shall I prepare morning and evening, to
You, O Holy God, Who created all life: holy
angels and the children of humankind, beasts of
the field, and birds of the sky.

Great are Your deeds and mighty, humbling the
haughty and straightening the bowed. Even if a
person lived thousands of years, he could not
fathom the extent of Your powerful deeds.

God to Whom belongs honor and greatness, save
Your sheep from the mouth of lions; and bring
Your people out from exile – the people that You
chose from all the nations.

To Your Sanctuary return and to the Holy of
Holies – the place where spirits and souls will
rejoice. And they will sing songs and praises in
Jerusalem, city of beauty.” (Kah Ribon Olam
by Rabbi Moshe of Najara)

7. “May the Temple be rebuilt; the City of Zion
replenished. There shall we sing a new song,
with joyous singing ascend.” (Tzur MiShelo)

The rebuilt Temple “will be called a house of
prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 56:7); thus,
in this new age, we will call upon all humankind
to join us in singing this new song to Hashem –
the Compassionate One, as it is written:

“Sing to Hashem a new song; sing to Hashem
everyone on earth.” (Psalm 96:1)

Those who join us in singing this new song will
also be called “chassidim” – those who serve
with loving devotion, as it is written:

“Sing to Hashem a new song; His praise is in
the assembly of the chassidim.” (Psalm 149:1)

As Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains:

This psalm calls upon us to sing “a new song”
– the song of the new future day – when not only
the Jews, but also all the others who will then
come near to Hashem with devotion, will form one
great assembly of chassidim.

May we soon experience the song of these
chassidim in the age which will be entirely
Shabbos and tranquility for life everlasting.

Have a Good and Sweet Shabbos,

Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen (See below)

Related Comments:

1. In the above psalm which mentions “the
assembly of the chassidim,” Rabbi Hirsch
translates “chassidim” as “those devoted in
love.”

2. The followers of the Baal Shem Tov, a leading
Torah sage of the eighteenth century, became
known as “chassidim”; moreover, the movement
that grew out of his teachings became known as
the Chassidic movement. Among other things, this
movement gave added emphasis to Torah teachings
regarding the spiritual power of song. Rabbi
Aharon of Karlin, one of the greatest figures in
the earliest period of the Chassidic movement,
wrote the words to a Shabbos song which is sung
by many chassidim today on Friday night, and it
opens with the following words: God – I long
for the sweetness of Shabbos (Kah Echsof).

3. The following book on the Shabbos table songs
and the Grace after Meals offers both a
translation and a commentary: “Zemiros and
Birchas Hamazon” (Art Scroll). For further
information, visit the ArtScroll website:
http://www.artscroll.com/linker/hazon/home